Lukebakio Makes Starting Debut for Benfica Against Gil Vicente

Lisbon, Portugal — Belgian international Lukebakio will make his starting debut for Benfica in their match against Gil Vicente on September 26. The decision to include Lukebakio in the starting eleven comes after an impressive 25-minute performance against Rio Ave.

This announcement was made less than 24 hours after Benfica’s coach, José Mourinho, indicated in a press conference that Lukebakio did not have the stamina to play a full match. Despite this, Lukebakio, along with teammate Schjelderup, has been added to the lineup, with hope for a strong performance.

In contrast, Benfica will be without Enzo Barrenechea, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Mourinho has confirmed that Richard Ríos will also be part of the starting team, despite facing criticism in recent matches.

Gonçalo Moreira, a standout player for the under-23 team, could make his first appearance for the first team, starting on the bench. This adds potential excitement for the fans looking forward to his debut.

Benfica’s starting lineup against Gil Vicente will consist of Trubin; Dedic, António Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Lukebakio, Ríos, Aursnes and Schjelderup; Sudakov and Pavlidis.

On the other side, Gil Vicente will maintain the same lineup that secured victories in their last two matches. Their team includes Andrew; Zé Carlos, Elimbi, Buatu, and Konan; Cáseres, Santi García, and Luís Esteves; Murilo, Agustín, and Pablo Felipe.

The match is set to kick off at 20:15 at the Estádio da Luz, as both teams seek an advantage in the ongoing season.